SWIO-Energy
The SWIO-Energy project (Solar and Wind Energy in the Indian Ocean) is an innovative regional cooperation project that is part of the current collective effort to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects in the energy sector.
It involves three structures:
- The ENERGY-lab / LE2P laboratory, University of La Réunion
- The Department of Physics, University of Mauritius
- The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Laboratory, University of Mascareignes, Mauritius.
This 36-month project, unique to Reunion Island and the South-West Indian Ocean (SOOI), proposes to implement an innovative analytical approach to carry out climate analyses on solar and wind energy variability in the SOOI area, in particular on the islands of Reunion and Mauritius at different time scales: intraday, intra-seasonal, interannual.
The specificities of this project lie in the elaboration and analysis of climate simulations for the future (middle and end of the century) and on a fine spatial scale, which is of great interest especially for the actors working on the energy independence of La Réunion and Mauritius.
The objective of the project is to estimate the impact of climate change on solar and wind energy resources in the SOOI area, using regional climate simulations at very high spatial resolution (~ 1 km) from the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) regional climate model, with a particular focus on the two islands of Reunion and Mauritius.
This research would provide numerical simulation tools that would help to better specify the solar and wind potential of the region’s territories. This information could be used to better evaluate the evolution of the resource and its management in time and space. It could also be used to develop tools for the management of renewable energy risks (periods of shortage, for example).
The local projections produced by this model are of great interest, in particular for decision-makers and for the actors of the solar and wind energy sectors who are working on the energy independence of Reunion and Mauritius.
The innovative analytical approach is based on the combined analysis of in-situ data, satellite data and and regional climate simulations at very high spatial resolution (~ 1 km) from regional climate model WRF(*).
The WRF model is an essential component of the SWIO-Energy project in partnership with the two Mauritian universities:
- University of Mauritius
- University of Mascarene, Mauritius.
(*) WRF: Weather research and Forecast model : numerical model for weather and climate prediction used by meteorological services and in the fields of atmospheric research.
Actions:
- Processing and analysis of all observation data (ground-based, satellite) for the study of scale interactions and climate variability of solar radiation and wind:
- Deployment of new sensors for the measurement of solar radiation and wind in Reunion and Mauritius as part of the radiometric network IOS-net of the laboratory ENERGYlab/LE2P
- Validation of satellite data by comparison with ground data
- Processing and analysis of global and regional climate model outputs:
- Dynamic approach: regional simulations of recent and future climate of Reunion and Mauritius using the WRF model
- Statistical approach: use of machine-learning techniques.
Traque-soleil
New technical platform for the BSRN station
INTERNAL PYRANOMETER CALIBRATION BENCH
REFERENCE WEATHER STATION
PYRANOMETER
Other Instrumentation: pyranometer, UV radiometer, and weather transmitter
Partnerships with academics
The SWIO-Energy project is part of an international cooperation dynamic aiming at structuring the regional scientific community and reinforcing cooperation around energy management issue.
It is based on a strong partnership dynamic with a network of internationally renowned partners :
- The Department of Physics, University of Mauritius and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency laboratory of the University of Mascareignes, Mauritius
- Several laboratories and universities in France and South Africa: LACy and OIES (University of La Réunion), CRC-Biogéosciences (University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France), CSAG (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
- The meteorological services of La Réunion (Météo-France), Mauritius (MMS) and South Africa (SAWS)
- Observation networks (Reunion: IOS-net, SEAS-OI, OPAR-OSUR; international: BSRN)
- Companies locally established in Reunion ( EDF renewable,..).
Partnerships with Local stakeholders
The SWIO project is co-financed by EU and Réunion Region.
- Scientific communications,
- The organization of a scientific seminar,
- Communications towards the general public, …
will be part of the valorization of this project, co-financed by the Reunion Region and Europe.
| Closing seminar of the project |  |
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The SWIO-Energy project team has participated in the 30th Fête de la Science (Science Festival) on Thursday, November 18, 2021 : | |
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Mission to Mauritius, week of March 14, 2022. | |
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Article in https://defimedia.info/chute-de-temperature-pourquoi-fait-il-si-froid, August 7, 2022 – Mauritius | |
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Article in Le Mauricien, March 23, 2022, mission in Mauritius. | |
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Article on Le Quotidien in page 5 on 10/15/2021, shared with Solar.IO’s. Reprinted on Le Quotidien website: | |
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Article on Leader Reunion website . Dec 6th 2021
https://www.leaderreunion.fr/des-stations-de-mesure-sur-le-piton-des-neiges |
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The SWIO-Energy project video presentation can be seen here :
https://www.energylab.re/projets/projets-en-cours/swio/#Menu3150-7 |
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The 2nd SWIO-Energy project video presentation can be seen here :’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia_1JYeuufE | |
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Brochure | |
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Kakemono | |
Scientific Leaders
- Béatrice Morel, Dr HDR, beatrice.morel@univ-reunion.fr
- Patrick Jeanty, IGR, Project Technical Manager, patrick.jeanty@univ-reunion.fr
Project staff
Project manager :
- Chao Tang, Research Engineer, Senior Regional Climate Modeling, chao.tang@univ-reunion.fr
Staff :
- Swati Singh, Research Engineer Regional climate simulations, swati.singh@univ-reunion.fr
- Remy Ineza Mugenga,Research Engineer Regional climate simulations, ineza.mugenga@univ-reunion.fr
- Tina Herimino Andriantsalama, Study Engineer Database, tina.andriantsalama@univ-reunion.fr
- Elodie Marpinard, Study Engineer Project Management Assistance, elodie.marpinard@univ-reunion.fr
- Marie-Laure Pérony-Charton, Study Engineer Communication and Valorization, mperony@univ-reunion.fr
Episode 1 : climatic stations on top of Indianocéany :
Contact :
Laboratoire ENERGY-lab / LE2P
Béatrice MOREL, Scientific Manager
beatrice.morel@univ-reunion.fr
Tel : +262 262 93 86 71
15, Avenue
René Cassin
CS 92003
97744 Saint-Denis Cedex 9
La Réunion